How To Plant A Peach Seed To Grow Your Own Tree

 

Planting a peach tree in your yard puts fresh, ripe peaches within reach. Among fruit trees, peaches (as well as apricots and nectarines) are ideal candidates for growing from seed. All you need are the pits from a locally grown peach variety.

The proper preparation of the seeds and planting technique are important for successful seedling establishment. But in a suitable location and with basic care, young peach saplings grow quickly.

Here is everything you need to know about growing delicious peaches from seed.

Selecting Peach Seeds

Although commercial peaches are typically produced through grafting, peaches tend to come true from seed. This means the fruit from the seedling will closely resemble that of the parent plant in flavor and other characteristics. As such, trees grown from seed provide a reliable and affordable (free) option for backyard growers.

During peach season, purchase fruits from local growers at a farm stand or farmers' market. Locally grown peaches are more likely to be adapted to your regional climate than those purchased at the grocery store.

All peaches require a certain period of cold temperatures during the winter months to ensure proper leaf and flower bud development the following spring. This is called a chilling requirement, and it is measured as the accumulated hours at or below 45°F. In coastal areas and other warm climates, you need to select peach varieties with very low chilling requirements. Using peach seeds from fruits grown by local producers is a good way of ensuring you are using a peach variety adapted to local conditions.

Taste several different peach varieties to find your favorite(s). Collect seeds only from fully ripe peaches. Read more>>